Speed indicator



June '7, 1927. 7 1,631,796

T. COLLINS, JR

SPEED INDICATOR Filed Dec. 9, 1925 lNVENTOR T koma; Lollz'nx J;-

Patented June 7, 1927;

UNITED STATES PATEN orries.

THOMAS COLLINS, JR, or BAINBRIDGE, NEW YORK, essienon ro THE AMERICAN. SEPARATOR COMPANY; or BAIN'BRIDGE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 017 ,mawv

YORK.

SPEED iNnI'oA'roR.

Application filed December 9, 1925. Serial m). 74,232.

My present invention relates to a speed indicator adapted to be attached to a crank or other'revolving member of a cream separator or similar device to enable the operator to determine the minimum speed at which the revoluble member must be turned to effeet an efiicient operation of the separator )r other apparatus with which the speed indicator is employed. My improved speed in dieator is particularly adapted for use in cream separators but as will be understood its employment is not necessarily so limited.

I am aware that heretofore various types of indicators have been devised and employed for purposes, similar to thatfor which my improved speed indicator is par' ticularly adapted, for example in this type of speed indicator I am aware that heretofore a gong or hell has been employed and fitted with a guide member within which there is a striker actuated by the influences of centrifugal force and gravity, to strike the bell or gong and thus produce an audible signal when the revoluble speed of the indicator is less than a predetermined number of revolutions in a specified unit of time, and in which type of indicator there is a stop employed at the outer end of the guide, that is, the end distant from the center of revolution,' against which the striker engages when the speed reaches a predetermined limit. This type of speedindicator is serv iceable for some purposes, but has been found in practice to be insuiiicie-ntly sensi tive for satisfactory use in centrifugal cream separators. I have found in carrying on various experiments that by en'iploying an open ended guide with a reciprocating striker therein the sensitiveness 'of the indicator is materially increased. By so doing as will be understood. the indicator at predetermined speeds will make two audible alarms with each revolution. hen. the speed is greater than the necessary maximum, the striker lies against the inner surface of the gong or bell. hen however, the speed is slightly less than the desired maximum the result of the action of centrifugal force and the force of gravity causes the striker to .move a slight distance from the inner surface of the gong or bell and to be retained in such position during a portion of each revolution and to move toward and against the gong or bell to strike the same at another portion of eaehrevolution,whereby it will be understood the indicator is particularly sensitive and the operator may readily determine the speed at which the apparatus must beturned' to obtain eficient results.

The speed indicator made in accordance with my invention will be hereinafter more particularly described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a partof a separator illustrating the crank arm and the speed indicator connected therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged. side elevatio n and partial cross section. I

- Fig. 3 is a front elevation, and

Fig. 4 is asection on line 44, Fig. 3.

In the drawing a portion of a cream separator for the purposes of illustration 15 diagrammatically shown at 10. The drive shaft of the separator is illustrated at 11. As is customary the drive shaft is provided with a crank arm 12 and this is fitted with a pin 13 and a handle 14 by which the crank may be operated to turn the drive shaft and thus operate the separator. 'In. a suitable position the crank arm 12 is provided with a bracket 15 attached to which is a bell or gong 16. As illustrated, the bell 16 1s secured to the bracket by means of a screw 17 although as will be understood, this connection may be made in any suitable man ner. Vithin the bell I employ a slideway 18. This is preferably cylindrical and is titted with a flange 19 so that the slideway may be secured in position by means of the same screw 17 which secures the bell in place on the bracket of the crank arm. The slideway 18 is adjacent the side of the bracket and consequently is offset'from the center line of the crank arm, although as will be understood, the construction may be such thatthis slideway will be in. align ment with the crank arm. Within theslideway 18 there is a striker or a slide member 20 which as illustrated is inthe form of a ball. Of course, it will be understood that the slideway may be of any suitable shape and the striker made to conform therewith so that through the action of centrifugal.

force and gravity it will reciprocate in they predetermined-number of revolutions in a unit of time, and to lie againstthe hell at the outer end of thefslideway when and atter the revolution ot-the crank ari'n reaches a predetermined point, It will also be understood as"hereinhetorestated,-that due to the action of centrifugal force and gravity when the speed of the crank arm is slightly less than the desired maximum, the strikerwill move and he retaineda slight distance from the bell during a portion of each revolution andfanother partot each revolution willmoye toward and strike the hell. It will also be understood. of course, that when the revolulole movement of the crank arm is sutii ciently sl0W,the striker-Will contact twice with the hell during each revolution of th crank arm. i i 3 1 I claim as myinvention:v i "In a speed indicator, a crank arnn a bracketcarried hy the crank arm, a: bell an open ended slideway lying in an ofiset position ithin the hell with the open endsthere of adjacent oppositely disposed surface portions of the helh a reciprocating menu-- her in the slideway, and. a unitary meant for simultaneously securing the hell to crank ari'n bracketand connecting the slide- Way in its offset position Within the bell. Eiigned by me this 1st day of Dec; 1922.

THOMAS COLLINS, JR; 

